NBN rollout continues with last SA suburbs to be connected over next few months, but old phone lines will be disconnected

Thousands of South Australian households and businesses are still using old telco lines for their phone and internet. But that is about to change. See the list of suburbs facing a switch off.

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More than 30,000 property owners in suburban Adelaide, and select parts of regional South Australia are being warned traditional phone lines will be switched off next month.

Customers in almost 50 suburbs will need to switch on to the National Broadband Network before having the traditional phone lines discontinued from next month.

The properties had been given a six-month reprieve as the coronavirus hit Australia.

But the switch-off is set to begin again on September 11, when existing landline phone and internet services in parts of suburbs ranging from Brighton to North Adelaide, Golden Grove, Morphett Vale and Elizabeth will be replaced by services provided over the NBN access network.

NBN head of state and social media Jane McNamara said homes and businesses in the suburbs had been able to switch services for about 18 months, with many doing so.

“Residents and business owners wanting to make the switch are encouraged to contact their preferred phone and internet provider to order a plan which meets their speed and data usage needs,” Ms McNamara said.

Customers in almost 50 suburbs will need to switch on to the National Broadband Network before having the traditional phone lines discontinued from next month.

She said NBN had established a $150m COVID-19 financial relief and assistance package to help internet providers support customers affected by the pandemic.

“Anyone experiencing financial hardship, including those who are yet to move to NBN, are encouraged to talk to their provider about the assistance package,” she said.

Earlier this month, The Advertiser revealed almost 100,000 homes and businesses were still not able to connect to the NBN even though the $51bn project passed its deadline in June and overspent by $700m over the past year.

But NBN chief executive Stephen Rue said at the time he considered the “initial build” of the infrastructure project “completed” despite the shortfall and celebrated its role in keeping Australians connected during the coronavirus pandemic.

SA properties in St Marys, Altona, Lyndoch, Adelaide, Crafers West and Stirling are waiting for connections.

NBN has a rollout map that allows people to search by address.